The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded the Rosebud Sioux Tribe almost $7 million to build a veterans cemetery near Mission.

The Rapid City Journal reports (http://bit.ly/nwzoec ) that the grant is the first of its kind given by the VA to a Native American government for a veteran’s cemetery.

A change in federal law in 2006 authorized the VA to give veterans cemetery grants to tribal governments, just as they are given to states and territories. The grant to the Rosebud Tribe will pay to develop the cemetery on about 14.4 acres on a larger 74-acre tract of reservation property.

The cemetery will include pre-placed crypts, traditional burial areas and burial areas for cremated remains. It is expected to open for burials in 2012 or later.